NEW ORLEANS -- It will be a new rotation coach Terry Stotts will manage in the coming weeks, a challenge that figures to once again test his patience with the Trail Blazers’ youth and inexperience.

With star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge out at least two games, Stotts will likely turn to his “small ball” tactic that worked so well in February, when the Blazers went 4-1 as Aldridge nursed a groin injury. That meant Dorell Wright started at power forward, and the likes of Thomas Robinson and Victor Claver got extended time off the bench.

The last time Aldridge was out, Robinson saw his playing time nearly double, to 20.5 minutes a game, while Wright started all five games and averaged 20 minutes. Claver, who had hardly played all season, averaged 15 minutes in Aldridge’s absence.

Meanwhile, veteran Earl Watson figures to absorb the bulk of Mo Williams’ playing time, which was created when the Blazers’ top reserve injured his hip Tuesday in Memphis, although rookie CJ McCollum and second-year player Will Barton could also see an increase in time.

One of the struggles between coach and player in the NBA can be the consistency in playing time for younger players. The young players feel like they are not afforded the same leeway in making mistakes, while coaches in a playoff run are quicker to go back to proven commodities.

It has been an element in the frustrations this season with Robinson, who sometimes doesn’t understand why he is kept “on a short leash,” as he calls it, while he feels other players are allowed to play through mistakes. Stotts says he is cognizant of those types of frustrations with young players, which he says is why “I try not to yank them every time.’’

“Sometimes the bench is a good teacher,’’ Stotts said. “And sometimes you have to explain things as you move on. I’ve never been one to yank guys in and out. I think it’s disruptive to their rhythm. I know fans and people like to say ‘Get him out of the game and teach him a lesson’ but I don’t think that is always the best case, particularly when you need them to help you on the court.’’

Robinson spoke last week in Dallas of the benefit of playing with more leeway from Stotts after he had 11 points and 9 rebounds in 20 minutes against the Mavericks.

"I need to get an opportunity on the floor, that's it,'' Robinson said. "I'm not doing anything different. I did what I was supposed to do when I came in from jump, so coach gave me a bigger leash.''

The Blazers will especially need the help of Robinson, Claver, and Wright, as well as Watson and McCollum and Barton, in these abscences. While not all of them are young, none of them are regular rotation players who are used to having the luxury of making a mistake without fear of removal.

“Young players have to be able to play through mistakes,’’ Stotts said. “And the mistakes need to be corrected. I generally don’t have a problem as long as they are doing it with effort. Right now, we need their minutes. They have to play through it. Their minutes are valuable. It’s kind of learning as you go. But that’s part of the process for young players.’’